Endocrinology Flashcards
What stimulates the pituitary gland to release hormones?
Hormones released from the hypothalamus
What hormones are released from the anterior pituitary?
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Lutienizing hormone (LH)
- Growth hormone (GH)
- Prolactin
What hormones are released from the posterior pituitary?
- Oxytocin
- Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
What hormones are released from the hypothalamus?
- Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
- Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)
- Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GRH)
- Dopamine
- Somatostatin
How does the thyroid hormone axis work?
- TRH released from hypothalamus in response to low T3 + T4
- Anterior pituitary release TSH
- TSH works on thyroid to stimulate T3 + T4 (triiodothyronine + thyroxine) release
- Negative feedback-> T3 + T4 suppress TRH + TSH release
How does the adrenal hormone axis work?
- Hypothalamus released CRH in response to low cortisol
- Anterior pituitary released ACTH
- Adrenal glands stimulated to release cortisol
- Negative feedback-> high cortisol suppressed CRH release
What are the functions of cortisol?
- Stress hormone-> released in pulses in response to stimulus
- Inhibit immune system + bone formation
- Increase metabolism + alertness
- Raises blood glucose levels
- Diurnal variation-> peak in morning + lowest in evening
When are cortisol levels highest in the body?
In the morning
When are cortisol levels lowest in the body?
In the evening
How does the growth hormone axis work?
- GHRH released from hypothalamus
- GH released from anterior pituitary and acts on cells
- Stimulates insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) from liver
What are the functions of growth hormone?
- Acts on all cells
- Stimulate muscle growth
- Increases bone density and strength
- Stimulates cell regeneration + reproduction
- Stimulates internal organ growth
How does the parathyroid hormone axis work?
- Low serum calcium, low magnesium + high serum phosphate
- Stimulates PTH release from the 4 parathyroid glands
- Increases serum calcium
- Negative feedback loop
What are the functions of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
- Increase activity and number of osteoclasts-> reabsorption of calcium from bone to blood
- Increased calcium reabsorption in the kidney-> less excreted
- Stimulates conversion of vitamin D3 to calcitriol in kidneys-> to promote calcium absorption in the small intestine
How does the renin-angiotensin aldosterone (RAAS) system work?
- Low blood pressure
- Detected by juxtaglomerular cells in afferent (+ some efferent) arterioles in the kidney-> release renin
- Renin converts antigiotensinogen (from liver) to angiotensin I
- Angiotensin I converted to angiotensin II (in lungs) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE
- Angiotensin II acts on vessels to vasoconstrict-> increase BP
- Angiotensin II also stimulates release of aldosterone
- Aldosterone-> increase sodium reabsorption from distal tubule-> increases BP
How does angiotensin II increase blood pressure?
- Acts on blood vessels to vasoconstrict
- Stimulates release of aldosterone
What is the function of aldosterone?
- Mineralocorticoid steroid released from adrenal glands-> increases BP
- Acts on distal tubule-> increase sodium reabsorption + potassium secretion
- Acts on collecting ducts-> increase hydrogen secretion
- As sodium is reabsorbed-> increases intravascular volume + increases BP
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Signs and symptoms due to prolonged abnormal cortisol elevation
What is Cushing’s disease?
Pituitary adenoma secretes excess ACTH and causes Cushing’s syndrome
What is the difference between Cushing’s syndrome and Cushing’s disease?
- Syndrome-> signs and symptoms due to prolonged abnormal cortisol elevation
- Disease-> pituitary adenoma secretes excess ACTH and causes Cushing’s syndrome
- So disease causes syndrome, but syndrome not necessarily due to disease
What are the features of Cushing’s syndrome?
Central obesity, moon face, abdominal striae, buffalo hump, proximal limb muscle wasting, hypertension, easy bruising, poor skin healing, insomnia, depression, T2DM, cardiac hypertrophy
What are the causes of Cushing’s syndrome?
- Exogenous steroids
- Cushing’s disease
- Adrenal adenoma
- Paraneoplastic-> excess ACTH from cancer eg small cell lung cancer
What is the investigation of choice for Cushing’s syndrome?
Dexamethasone suppression test
How does the dexamethasone suppression test work?
- Give low dose dexamethasone (1mg) dose at night + measure cortisol and ACTH in the morning
- Normal result-> morning spike should be suppressed by dexamethasone (as lower CRH + ACTH output so lower cortisol)
- Abnormal result-> not suppressed + indicated Cushing’s
- Give high dose dexa (8mg) to find out cause
- If cortisol suppressed + ACTH suppressed (ie some response to negative feedback)-> pituitary adenoma
- If cortisol not suppressed + ACTH suppressed-> adrenal adenoma
- If cortisol + ACTH not suppressed-> ectopic ACTH
What result of a dexamethasone suppression test would indicate Cushing’s syndrome?
Normal morning spike of cortisol not suppressed after giving low dose dexa the night before
What result of a dexamethasone suppression test would indicate pituitary adenoma?
- Normal morning spike of cortisol not suppressed after giving low dose dexa the night before
- Cortisol and ACTH suppressed after high dose dexa-> some response to negative feedback
What result of a dexamethasone suppression test would indicate adrenal adenoma?
- Normal morning spike of cortisol not suppressed after giving low dose dexa the night before
- Cortisol not suppressed + ACTH suppressed after high dose dexa given
What result of a dexamethasone suppression test would indicate ectopic ACTH release?
- Normal morning spike of cortisol not suppressed after giving low dose dexa the night before
- Cortisol + ACTH not suppressed
What investigations are done in Cushing’s syndrome?
- Dexamethasone suppression test
- Bloods-> FBCs, U+Es (hypokalaemia when aldosterone released by adenomas)
- 24 hour urinary free cortisol
- MRI brain-> pituitary adenoma
- Chest CT-> small cell lung cancers
- Abdominal CT-> adrenal tumours
How is Cushing’s syndrome treated?
- Treat the underlying cause-> remove pituitary/adrenal adenomas etc
- Can remove adrenals + give replacement steroids
What happens in adrenal insufficiency?
Adrenals don’t produce enough cortisol + aldosterone-> life threatening
What are the broad causes of adrenal insufficiency?
- Addison’s disease-> primary adrenal insufficiency (usually AI)
- Secondary-> loss/damage to pituitary causes inadequate ACTH release
- Tertiary-> usually steroids causing inadequate CRH release from hypothalamus
What are the causes of primary adrenal insufficiency?
Addision’s disease-> autoimmune usually
What are the causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency?
Loss or damage to pituitary-> surgery, infection, hypoperfusion, radiotherapy, Sheehan’s (blood loss in childbirth causing pituitary glad necrosis)
What are the causes of tertiary adrenal insufficiency?
Long term steroids (3+ weeks)-> sudden withdrawal can lead to inadequate endogenous steroid production
What are the symptoms and signs of adrenal insufficiency?
- Fatigue, nausea, cramps, abdominal pain, reduced libido
- Hypotension
- Bronze hyperpigmentation of creases-> ACTH stimulates melanin production from melanocytes
What is the investigation of choice for adrenal insufficiency?
Short synacthen test (ACTH stimulation test)
How does the short synacthen (ACTH stimulation) test work?
- Give synacthen (synthetic ACTH)
- Measure cortisol at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after
- Normal-> level doubles or more
- Addison’s (primary)-> failure to double
How does the long synacthen test work and when is it used?
- To distinguish between primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency
- Give ACTH infusion
- Primary-> no response
- Secondary-> eventually rises (adrenal atrophy)
How is adrenal insufficiency investigated?
- Short synacthen test
- Long synacthen test-> distinguish types
- ACTH level measured
How is adrenal insufficiency treated?
- Hydrocortisone-> cortisol replacement
- Fludrocortisone-> aldosterone replacement
- Steroid card + emergency ID tag-> indicate lifelong steroids
- Steroid doses doubled in acute illness
What is Addisonian/adrenal crisis?
Acute presentation of severe Addison’s?
What are the symptoms and signs of Addisonian/adrenal crisis?
LOC, hypotension, hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia
What can trigger Addisonian/adrenal crisis?
- Can be first presentation of Addison’s
- Infection, trauma, acute illness, withdrawal of steroids
How is Addisonian/adrenal crisis managed?
- IV hydrocortisone 100mg stat then 100mg every 6 hours
- IV fluids
- Hypoglycaemia correction
- Monitoring of electrolytes and fluids
What antibodies can be raised in thyroid disease?
- Anti-TPO-> Grave’s and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Antithyroglobulin-> normal, Grave’s, Hashimotos, thyroid cancer
- TSH receptor antibodies-> Grave’s
What are anti-TPO antibodies and when can they be raised?
- Antithyroid peroxidase antibodies
- Grave’s and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
What are antithyroglobulin antibodies and when can they be raised?
- Against thyroglobulin-> protein produced by the thyroid
- In normal, Grave’s, Hashimotos, thyroid cancer
What are TSH receptor antibodies and when are they raised?
- Cause of Grave’s disease
- Mimic TSH and bind to receptors-> stimulate thyroid hormone release
What imaging can be used to investigate thyroid pathology?
- US + guided biopsy-> between cystic and solid nodules
- Radioisotope scans-> iodine given oral/IV + taken up by thyroid cells, more function when hyperthyroid or cancers
What might a radioisotope scan show in thyroid disease?
- Grave’s-> diffuse high uptake
- Toxic multinodular goitre-> focal high uptake
- Cancer-> might be ‘cold’ ie low
What is primary hyperthyroidism?
Overproduction of thyroid hormones due to pathology in the thyroid itself
What is secondary hyperthyroidism?
Overproduction of thyroid hormones due to overstimulation/overproduction of TSH-> hypothalamus or pituitary pathology
What are the features of hyperthyroidism (in general)?
Anxiety, sweating, heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss, fatigue, loose stools, sexual dysfunction
What is Grave’s disease?
Autoimmune disease-> TSH receptor antibodies produced which mimics TSH and causes T3/T4 overproduction
What are some of the symptoms and signs of Grave’s disease?
- Anxiety, sweating, heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss, fatigue, loose stools, sexual dysfunction
- Diffuse goitre without nodules
- Exophthalmos-> bulging eyeballs due to inflammation + hypertrophy of tissue behind the eyeballs
- Pretibial myxoedema-> waxy + discoloured + oedematous, due to TSH-receptor antibodies causing mucin deposits under skin
- Diffuse goitre without nodules
What is toxic multinodular goitre?
Nodules in the thyroid act independently from normal negative feedback-> produce excess hormones
What are the features of toxic multinodular goitre?
- Anxiety, sweating, heat intolerance, tachycardia, weight loss, fatigue, loose stools, sexual dysfunction
- Goitre with firm nodules
- Often 50+
What are solitary toxic thyroid nodules?
Benign adenomas producing thyroid hormones
How are solitary toxic thyroid nodules treated?
Surgical removal
What is De Quervain’s thyroiditis?
A viral infection causing hyperthyroidism then hypothyroidism as TSH levels fall (due to negative feedback)
What are the symptoms and signs of De Quervain’s thyroiditis?
Fever, neck pain, tenderness, dysphagia, hyperthyroidism
How is De Quervain’s thyroiditis managed?
- Usually self limiting
- Supportive-> NSAIDs for pain, beta blockers for hyperthyroid
What is a thyroid storm and what are its features?
Rare presentation of thyrotoxic crisis-> pyrexia, tachycardia, delirium
How is thyroid storm managed?
- Admission and monitoring
- Anti-arrhythmias
- Beta-blockers
How is hyperthyroidism managed?
- Carbimazole-> may lead to complete remission in 18 months
- Propylthiouracil-> 2nd line anti-thyroid
- Radioactive iodine-> destroy cells and can cause remission in 6 months
- Beta-blockers eg propranolol-> reduce adrenergic symptoms
- Surgery-> thyroid or nodules, will need levothyroxine for life
What two methods of carbimazole therapy are used in hyperthyroidism?
- Titration-block-> dose altered till normal TFTs
- Block + replace with levothyroxine
What should patients be told when given radioactive iodine therapy in hyperthyroidism?
- Avoid when pregnant/trying
- Limit contact with anyone for a few days after therapy
What is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?
- Autoimmune inflammation for thyroid-> associated with anti-TPO and antithyroglubulin antibodies
- Goitre then atrophy of gland
What are the causes of hypothyroidism?
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Iodine deficiency
- Secondary to hyperthyroid treatments
- Medications-> lithium, amiodarone
- Hypopituitarism-> tumour, infection, vascular (eg Sheehan’s), radiation
How does hypothyroidism present?
Weight gain, fatigue, dry skin, coarse hair, hair loss, fluid retention, heavy/irregular periods, constipation
What are the investigations for hyperthyroidism?
TFTs
- Primary-> low TSH and high T3/T4
- Secondary-> high TSH and high T3/T4
What are the investigations for hypothyroidism?
TFTs
- Primary-> high TSH + low T3/T4
- Secondary-> low TSH + low T3/T4
How is hypothyroidism managed?
Levothyroxine-> synthetic T3 that metabolises to T3 in body
- Dose titrated till TSH levels normal
- Measured monthly till stable then less often
What is the ideal blood glucose concentration in a healthy patient?
4.4-6.1mmol/L
Where is insulin produced?
Beta cells in the islets of Langerhans-> in the pancreas
How does insulin work?
- Anabolic ie building hormone
- Cause cells in body to absorb glucose + use as fuel
- Cause muscle and liver cells to absorb glucose and store as glycogen